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1279823

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2021
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Human Rights: Prisoners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of human rights defenders imprisoned and at risk from the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	142930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>The UK strongly supports human rights defenders worldwide to enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear. We regularly assess how we can enhance our ability to make a positive difference, including in the context of the increased risks posed by the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p>In July 2019, the UK set out its ongoing dedication to support and protect human right defenders in the document &quot;UK Support for Human Rights Defenders&quot;. The publication makes clear that our diplomatic network will work with and alongside Non Governmental Organisation representatives and human rights defenders to address the challenges they face. This includes human rights defenders who are detained, on trial or imprisoned.</p><p>On 4 June 2020, the UK joined human rights Ambassadors from six other European nations to issue a statement highlighting the importance of ensuring a safe enabling environment for human rights defenders. The statement made clear that states have a responsibility to ensure that any emergency powers in place to combat Covid-19 are not used as tools to repress civil society, marginal groups or populations as a whole.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 02/02/2021 17:42:57 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams previous answer version 79456 answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1230094

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Southern Africa: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many southern African nations have received additional dedicated support to help tackle the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	83815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK is working with partners across southern Africa to mitigate the health, humanitarian and economic impacts of COVID-19. We have committed up to £774 million of UK aid to tackle the global impacts of COVID-19 and the Foreign Secretary has announced a further £119 million package to tackle the combined threat of coronavirus and famines, this includes efforts to reduce malnutrition and child mortality in countries such as Malawi.</p><p>Through the UK Emergency Medical Team, we have directly deployed UK medical experts to South Africa and Zambia. We have contributed £75 million to the World Health Organization, enabling their leadership of the global response, whilst our £20 million contribution towards the African Union's COVID-19 response is enabling the deployment of African health experts where they are needed most.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 08/09/2020 16:53:11 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1230700

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	India and Pakistan: Locusts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department has provided within the last six months to (a) Pakistan and (b) India to tackle locust invasions.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	84255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>Globally, the UK has contributed a total of £25million to the UN Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) Desert Locust Appeal. Some of this funding is being used to tackle breeding grounds in Yemen which are the source of many of the locusts currently affecting India and Pakistan.</p><p>More specifically, in Pakistan, we have committed £2million of UK aid to strengthen the Government of Pakistan's ability to respond to the crisis, support the livelihoods of 18,000 affected farmers and provide equipment for affected areas. This includes the purchase of 50 vehicle-mounted sprayers, from UK-based manufacturer Micron Group, to ensure the government has the most up-to-date and appropriate equipment</p><p>We have not provided direct funding to India. The FAO is supporting the Government of India's Locust Watch Organisation with procurement and coordination of equipment and pesticide supplies.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 14/09/2020 16:10:12 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1230701

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Libya: Land Mines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Libyan counterpart on the use of landmines in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	84256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK is deeply concerned at increasing numbers of reported casualties this year, resulting from landmines, booby traps, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). The UK Government continues to raise this issue at senior levels, including in its intervention on Libya at the UN Security Council on 2 September, and in contacts with Libyan interlocutors. Through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund, we fund the survey and clearance of areas contaminated by ERW. This includes training in explosive ordnance disposal and other technical mine action activities, and mine risk education, to raise awareness of the dangers of mines and ERW.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 11/09/2020 11:34:50 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1230703

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	China and USA: Nuclear Weapons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on preventing a nuclear arms race from taking place between the US and China.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	84257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with his US counterpart on a range of issues, including strategic security.</p><p>US strategic arms, along with those of Russia, are limited by the New START Treaty. We recognise the contribution New START has made to international security by increasing transparency and mutual confidence among the two largest Nuclear Weapons States. We support its continued implementation and have encouraged the US to extend New START while negotiating a successor agreement.</p><p>However, New START does not include new Russian systems, nor does it place any limits on China's growing nuclear arsenal. We therefore urge China to engage seriously with the US calls for a new trilateral arms control agreement.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 11/09/2020 12:08:07 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1230708

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Hong Kong: National Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on national security legislation in Hong Kong; and whether he has made progress on preventing human rights violations in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	84258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>As the Foreign Secretary made clear in Parliament on 1 July, the enactment and imposition by China of national security legislation for Hong Kong constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The legislation violates the high degree of autonomy of executive and legislative powers and independent judicial authority, provided for in the Joint Declaration. Furthermore, it contains a slew of measures that directly threaten the freedoms and rights protected by the Joint Declaration. Since the legislation was introduced, the Hong Kong authorities have arrested a number of political figures in Hong Kong.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary set out our concerns about the national security legislation to State Councillor/Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, on 8 June and 28 July. FCDO officials also continue to raise our concerns with the Hong Kong authorities, including with members of the Executive Council and the President of the Legislative Council.</p><p>On 9 August, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement together with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, which expressed shared concern at Beijing's imposition of national security legislation. We will continue to bring together our international partners to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their freedoms, and to hold China to their international obligations freely assumed under international law.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 14/09/2020 15:56:06 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1231185

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of consular assistance for UK citizens seeking to return to the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	84697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>Helping British travellers who needed and wanted to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities during the height of the COVID pandemic. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - many supported by our work to keep key routes and transit hubs open. We have brought home over 38,000 people on 186 special charter flights organised by the FCDO, from 57 countries and territories. In addition, more than 19,000 British passengers from 60 cruise ships were successfully disembarked, many directly supported by HMG. We continue to provide consular support to British nationals in country and we are working to ensure commercial routes are maintained. While no further charters are currently planned, we continue to monitor risks globally and to review how best to provide assistance where necessary. Anyone who still needs some support can contact the FCDO 24/7 for advice.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 14/09/2020 15:41:33 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1232911

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make protecting freedom of religion or belief a priority for his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	87546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>Defending the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is a priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The UK Government has committed to implement the Bishop of Truro's 22 recommendations in full, in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief. Over half of the recommendations have either been implemented, or are in progress, and work is continuing to implement the remainder.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams grouped question UIN 87551 question first answered 17/09/2020 16:46:03 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1232920

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Departmental officials who work in countries with significant freedom of religion or belief violations are using his Department's freedom of religion or belief toolkit to help tackle that issue.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	87548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>The FCDO has developed a workshop that helps our staff in overseas Posts to implement our toolkit on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The Freedom of Religion or Belief toolkit was developed with input from legal and academic experts, and is intended to support FCDO human rights officers as they promote and protect this human right, and respond to violations or abuses of it (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516/Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf). Colleagues in Posts are encouraged to report to the Department on FoRB issues in their host countries on a regular basis.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 17/09/2020 16:52:37 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1232924

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Democracy and Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will invite submissions from civil society during the process of preparing his Department’s Human Rights and Democracy report.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	87549
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>We regularly engage with a wide range of civil society organisations globally on human rights issues and value their contributions in achieving our foreign policy and development priorities. This engagement will be reflected in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's 2020 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report to be published in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 17/09/2020 16:47:38 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon